Congratulations to all participants, and our winners (see following race report and attached results)

Thanks to the whole NKOA team for their work in developing the sanctioning framework for our races. Especially to Lara, Conan, Debbie, and Amiria for their help in the lead up to the Whaingaroa Hoe. And to Active Post, New Zealand Post for the funding.

To our Whaingaroa Waka Whanau members, and all our non paddling friends, partners, and whanau who worked from before dawn till after dark at Te Kopua on race day; setting up the site, safety checking, crewing boats, race registrations, timing, kai preparation and serving.
This event would not be possible without your amazing support.
So thank you all for the mammoth effort!

Many thanks to Kaumatua - Sean and Paddy along with Kuia – Lucy, Pania, and Eva for the karakia. Margaret Dillon for the photos.

A special acknowledgement to the Herbert and Kereopa Whanau for sharing another beautiful race day with us.

We wouldn’t be able to run our race without our most fantastic and enthusiastic support boat skippers – Kelvyn, Craig P, Shane, Phil, Don, Roydon, Roger, Nick, Craig B, Gus, Brady and Clint. With their crews Cathy, Buba, Mike, Taiko, Jill, Jenny, Logan, and Kani.

Thanks to our expert first aid crew Andrea, Tish, Sue, and Carol.

Invaluable supporters of our event include; Richard and Alison at Top Cut Butcher, Mark Mathers (Wharf Fish and Chips), Rob Bailey (Tractor FM), Karioi Dog Trials, Raglan Sport Fishing Club, Raglan Surf Lifesaving Club, WDC, Waka Ama NZ (Lara, Debbie, Conan, and Amiria), Dan Mills (D Signs), Sport Waikato (Sports Force – Waka Ama, Paul Roozendaal), Kawharu Greensill, Haki Tuaupiki, Derek Morrison, Poihakena Marae, Whaingaroa ki te Whenua, and the Whaingaroa Maori Wardens for traffic management plan and marshalling,

All the donated Spot Prizes were well received at prize giving and thanks goes to - Raglan Roast, Herbal Dispensary, Good George, Tai Paddles, ANZ Bank, Tony Sly Pottery, Kanuka, Raglan Surf Co, Orca, Carpet Court, Raglan Information Centre, Raglan Palm Beach Motel, Toi Hauauru, Zinnia, KaiOranga Catering, Steel and Tube, Wattyl paints, Kitchen Things, Knait Insulation, Impact Kitchens, Tudor Decorating, Kiwi Timber Supplies, Kiwi Designer Homes, Zenith Solutions, WTC Roofing, East Coast Paddler, Pathways- Immigration Advisors.

We look forward to seeing you all back in Whaingaroa in 2015.

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou
Amber Hartstone


Whaingaroa Hoe 2014 – Race Report

The 2014 Whaingaroa Hoe brought a record number of paddlers and supporters to Raglan. There were 723 participants from W6 (8km and 24km), W1 and W2 (12km), and SUP (12km).

The first race start line (Novice and Junior) stretched across the harbour with 47 waka in total.
The Junior Boys crews recorded the five fastest time for the 8km course, with ‘Te Manga’ from Cook Islands first overall and first in the Junior Boys division. Their time was 35.10 minutes.
First place in the Junior Girls division also went to the Cook Islands Club with ‘Tiare Maori’ winning in 40.34 minutes.
The Novice Mixed was the largest division in the 8km race with 14 teams entered. ‘Otaikokako Motley Crew’ from Taranaki won in 39.35 minutes.
Fastest Novice Men were ‘RP Master Men’ from Rahui Pokeka and Novice Women winners were ‘Hei Matariki’ from Parihaka.
The last Novice and Junior crews finished the course within 14 minutes of the leaders. Really exciting and close racing for all these crews…well done!

This year saw Stand Up paddlers (4 men and 5 women) back on the start line to race the 12km course alongside the W1 and W2 paddlers.
Waka ama paddler and Rotorua SUP Tour owner Bernd Sommer finished second, only .6 of a second behind Armie Armstrong (Current top ranked NZ Mens SUP).
Winner of the womens SUP was Pea Strickland who finished in a time of 1 hour 21 minutes.
It was great to see a quality field of SUP out on the water, and we hope to see this division grow in 2015.

Thirty-three W1 and W2 paddlers from ‘Open’ to ‘Golden Master’ Men raced the 12km course in the morning. With many of these paddlers turning out on the W6 24km start line at 2pm.
Tupu King who is the current W1 National Long Distance and Sprint Champion took out the Open division and the fastest course time in 59.03 minutes.
Tonga White (Turangawaewae Waka Sports) won the Master Mens division finishing second overall, only 2 minutes behind King.
Congratuations to all the Master Men; who took out four of the top seven positions, in the 12km event.
Neil O’Brien (Hawaiki Nui) was the fastest Senior Master with a time of 104.17.

In the W1 Womens 12km event, Koha-Alofa Vitolio (a Junior paddler from Cook Islands Club) won the Open Womens division and also recorded the fastest course time for the W1 and W2 womens course.
Over the race she traded the lead with Ngaire King (1st Senior Master Women) and Ngaire Pehi (1st Master Women) winning by under one minute. Inamaru Tere (Waitakere) and Lynora Hati (Mitimitaga) rounded out the top 5 places.
The W2 Womens 12km race was won by ‘Ebony and Ivory’ from Waitakere.
It was great to see the Golden Master (Mens and Womens) divisions represented in W1, W2, and W6. The W2 Golden Master womens 12 km was won by ‘Lynley and Ester’ from Parihaka.

The windless flat conditions on the harbour made for fast and close racing in both the morning and afternoon 24km W6 events.

Women and Mixed W6 crews (30 in total) started at 10.30am inside the Te Kopua estuary.
Mixed teams recorded the fastest times for the course. Waitakere ‘Gunz and Rozez’ winning in 1 hour 46 minutes.
Winners of the Open Womens 24 km event were ‘Wera’ from Tarawera (1.52 hrs), and they also won the ‘Chrissy Herbert Memorial’ Trophy for the fastest W6 Women’s crew over the 24km course.
The W6 Master Women division was contested by eight teams and won by ‘Manu Wahine Masters’ form Manukau in 1 hour 50 minutes.
Congratulations to the Golden Master womens crew ‘Wow Factor’ from Tauranga Moana Outrigger Canoe Club; the first ever entry in their division for the 24km W6 race.

At 2pm, thirty-three men’s W6 crews started on the 24km course.
‘Herberts on Tour ‘and’ Vaka Manu fought for the lead position in the Open Mens division, and lead whole race pack over the entire 24km. At the last turn (under 3km from the finish) there was only 11 seconds separating these two crews.
‘Herberts on Tour’ were eventual winners by 22 seconds in a time of 1 hour 38 minutes.
The top 20 crews across all divisions finished within 10 minutes of the leaders, and there were some very close finishes throughout the field.
‘Miti Master Men’ fro Mitimitaga won the W6 Master Men division in 1 hour 40 minutes.
The Piripi Kereopa Memorial trophy went to ‘Taniwha Grizzlies Gold’ from Taniwha in the Senior Master men division.

Fourty three Clubs were represented at the 2014 Whaingaroa Hoe.
Congratulations to Waitakere Outrigger Canoe Club from Auckland who won the Nga Tai Whakarongo ‘Korowai Aroha’ trophy, and $500.00 for the Club Points Prize. They had the highest points accumulated over the day for placings and participation.


Please see full list of results attached.